Is Inauguration Day a federal holiday? The event coincides with MLK Day

On By Littum

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There’s an extra federal holiday this year, but don’t get too excited—it’s not a day off for most people. Or is it?

Inauguration Day is typically a federal holiday only for federal employees in Washington, DC and certain federal offices. It is not one of the standard 11 federal holidays that most employers recognize.

This year, however, Inauguration Day falls on Monday, January 20, which is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As a result, many Americans will have the day off — though not because of Inauguration Day.

More: How to get up to 52 vacation days in 2025 with only 15 days of PTO. See holiday calendar

What are the federal holidays in 2025?

Normally, there are 11 federal holidays each year, but every four years, Inauguration Day is added to the calendar — and it falls this year. However, it is only observed as a holiday for federal employees in Washington DC and certain federal offices.

Whether you take the day off depends on your employer or organization, as Inauguration Day is not universally recognized. This year, it just happened to coincide with an existing federal holiday.

Here are the federal holidays for 2025:

  • 1 January – New Year’s Day
  • January 20 – The birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
  • January 20 – Inauguration Day
  • 17 February – Washington’s birthday
  • May 26 – Memorial Day
  • June 19 – June 1900 National Independence Day
  • July 4th – Independence Day
  • 1 September – Labor Day
  • 13 Oct – Indigenous Peoples Day
  • Nov 11 – Veterans Day
  • Nov 27 – Thanksgiving Day
  • December 25 – Christmas Day